Arts Drive: The Berkshires
- A garden marks the entrance to the studio at Chesterwood, sculptor Daniel Chester French’s summer home in Stockbridge. Credit: Ron Blunt / Chesterwood, A National Trust Historic Site
More than a century ago, American sculptor Daniel Chester French began scouring New England for a summer home. The creator of the Lincoln Memorial knew exactly what he wanted—pristine natural beauty with ready access to the cultural sophistication of cities like New York and Boston.
He found it in the Berkshires. Today, the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts are home to a thriving community of artists, heirs to a tradition of diversity and excellence. Visitors can treat themselves to everything from iconic museums to street art to galleries tucked away on shady side streets.
“It really is like being at the center of an artistic world,” says sculptor Andrew DeVries, who maintains a gallery in Lenox. “When you consider what we have access to in terms of the visual arts, it’s just amazing.”
Start your visit in Great Barrington, home to the Berkshires Arts Festival. Now in its eighth year, the festival takes place on the slopes of beautiful Ski Butternut, July 3-5. Visitors can participate in workshops and take in the wares of 175 juried American artists.
In the town proper, drop by Evergreen Contemporary Crafts on Main Street. Owner Barbara Watkins, a 30-year veteran of the Berkshires visual arts community, offers contemporary pieces by more than 250 artists.
Across the way, Railroad Street is home to Karen Allen Fiber Arts, where the actress of Indiana Jones fame creates and shows sweaters, hats, scarves and other cashmere clothing items.
For more of “Arts Drive: The Berkshires,” pick up the August 2009 issue of AmericanStyle today!
